Skating Ice
Whether you’re skating on the historic Rideau Canal or your local pond, ice skating is a Canadian tradition. Learn more about the process of ice formation and creating the ideal surface for skating on the Rideau Canal in this blog by the National Capital Commission.
Putting Multi-sport into Practice
Is there a future for kids’ multi-sport programming in Canada? This was the question during an interactive panel presentation at the 2018 Petro-Canada Sport Leadership Conference. Learn more about the discussion in today’s SIRC blog, the last in a series about the value and possibility of a multi-sport approach to sport and physical activity in…
Putting Multi-sport into Practice

The Coaching Association of Canada’s 2018 Petro-Canada Sport Leadership Conference focused on fostering positive change in the sport system through influence. One panel discussion attracted attention with the simple question: Is there a future for multi-sport in Canada? Led by an expert panel that included Carolyn Townsend (Sport Nova Scotia), André Lachance (Baseball Canada), Richard…
Brain-changing Exercise
Looking for a way to enhance your mood, improve your memory and slow cognitive decline? Neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki talks about the short- and long-term brain-changing benefits of exercise in this insightful and personal Ted Talk.
Collectivism in Individual Sport
Feelings of belonging are strongly linked to enjoyment of sport and physical activity, and are a good predictor of continued participation. Research from the University of Lethbridge found that a collective orientation was as important in individual sport contexts as it is in team sport contexts.
2018 Year in Review

As we ease ourselves into the year ahead, here is a round-up of the most popular SIRCuit articles and SIRC blogs from 2018! Top 5 SIRCuit articles The implications of cannabis legalization for athletes Issues in athlete identification and selection: Are we compromising talent? A year in the making – Reflections on Canada Artistic Swimming’s…
Extreme Grandpa
Sport practitioners are embracing a multisport approach to enhance skill development and reduce athlete burnout and injury. But could a multisport approach also lead to a longer life? An active, multisport life might be the secret of the “World’s Most Extreme Grandpa”.
Tips for Inclusive Programs for Persons with Disabilities

December 3, 2018 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This year’s theme is “Empowering People with Disabilities and Ensuring Inclusiveness and Equality”. Here in Canada, we have reason to celebrate. The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, is shepherding Bill C-81, the Accessible Canada Act, through its parliamentary process….
Cut from the team: How parents can help their kids cope

Deselection (or being cut) from a sports team can be a crushing experience for young athletes. After being cut, athletes often experience a range of negative psychosocial and emotional consequences such as a loss of athletic identity, sense of self, friendships, connectedness to school, and decreased academic performance, along with feelings of anxiety, humiliation, and anger. Recently…
Tapping into the evidence: The Sport Canada Research Initiative Conference

This year marks the 12th Sport Canada Research Initiative (SCRI) Conference, hosted by SIRC. First held in 2005, the SCRI Conference provides an opportunity for the Canadian sport sector to connect with sport-related researchers. The conference program is designed to engage key stakeholders, share research and evidence to inform decision-making, and ultimately enhance the impact…